The Firstborn

In short

The main idea is that the firstborn — especially a son — gets “dibs” on everything, like the inheritance, or at least the larger share of it. But there is more to the word than just the idea of “the first son to be born.”

Why it is important

So, this takes us on two paths: spiritual and physical.

In the physical sense, ironically, most of the main characters in the Old Testament are NOT the firstborn sons; this is usually spelled out in their origin stories, too. It is so consistent, it seems like a running joke!

In the spiritual sense, there is great importance given to sacrificing the firstfruits of crops or the first-born animal. I don’t know if it’s ever spelled out, but it seems the point is giving the dearest or best to God. Hannah gave up her son (after barrenness) to serve God all his life. His name was Samuel.

Examples of people

1. Abraham’s first son is Ishmael, but Isaac is the son that was promised to him.
2. Isaac’s first son is Esau, but Jacob becomes Israel after Esau sells his birthright
3. Jacob’s first son is Reuben but he sinned (Gen 49:3-4). Jacob’s 11th son, Joseph, is blessed with the double portion (Josh 17:17-18).
4. Jacob also blesses Joseph’s second son (Ephraim) to be greater than the first (Manasseh), Gen 48:17-19
5. Moses was younger than his brother Aaron (Ex 7:7)
6. David was the youngest of eight sons (1Sa 16:10-11, 13)

Spiritual examples

1. The most outstanding example is that of the literal Passover in Exodus. “At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock” (Ex 12:29).
2. Firstfruits of crops go to the LORD (Ex 34:26)
3. Sons and unclean firstborn animals are “redeemed” (Ex 13:2, 34:19-20; cf Num 18:15-17)
4. Those firstborn sacrifices are for the priests (Num 18:12-15)
5. Abel “brought of the firstborn of his flock,” while Cain “brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit” and (Gen 4:3-5)

Theology and doctrine

So, what to make of Jesus? He is:

1. Literally the first child born of Mary, Luke 2:7
2. The “firstborn of all creation,” Col 1:15
3. The “firstborn from the dead,” Col 1:18
4. The “firstborn among many brothers,” Rom 8:29

So, (for once) he is the first child born AND he has the destiny of a firstborn. He is also “our Passover” (1Co 5:7), “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29)

And I’ll leave you to wrestle with what that all means.